Article carrier for airplane delivery



June 24, 1930. 5 O DONNELL 1,768,194

ARTICLE CARRIER FOR AIRPLANE DELIVERY Filed April 4, 1928 Patented June24, 1930 SOPHIA O. DOIISTIN'ELL,

PATET OF TAZMPA, FLORIDA ARTICLE CARRIER FOR AIRPLANE DELIVERYApplication filed April 4,

My invention relates to a container or carrier for food stuffs and otherarticles or supplies by means of which such supplies may be dischargedfrom an airplane While in flight, and it is an object of the inventionto provide a simple and inexpensive arrangement and construction ofrelatively light weight, sturdy and durable construction, and

one which will exclude the elements, all of which will be hereinaftermore particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of my inventionattached to a parachute for landing from an airplane in flight,

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective of my invention,

Figure 3, a longitudinal section on a line 33 of Figure 2.

In the drawings reference character 10 in- 25 dicates a parachute ofconventional construction, to which is attached a substantiallycylindrical container 11, adapted to be used for discharging food stuffsand other supplies from an airplane in flight, such device being 30particularly adapted to be used where no place is available upon whichto land a plane, as for example, in a flooded area, or snow orrock-bound coast, where it is desirable to sustain life.

The container or carrier comprises a bottom or base 12, preferablyformed of light weight metal, such as aluminum or an alloy of the same,and having an upstanding flange or rim 13. To the exterior of the rim 13are attached by means of rivets 14 a plurality of uprights 15, which inthe present instance are three in number, and are spaced equally aboutthe said rim. To the uprights 15 is secured a top or supporting flange16 which is disposed in spaced relation from the bottom, and which isprovided with a depending flange or rim 17 secured by rivets 18 to saiduprights. This construction defines a skeleton frame consisting of abottom, a top or support and connecting uprights.

1928. Serial No. 267,399.

A cylindrical bag or casing 19 is mounted within the skeleton frame andhas its extremities fitting snugly within the bottom and top membersagainst the upstanding and depending flanges, and is secured in such p0-1615,) sition by the rivets 14 and 18, which hold the uprights and therespective flanges together. This cylindrical bag or casing ispreferably formed of relatively thick substantially flexible material,such as rubber or rubberized T601 cloth, so that moisture or the likewill be excluded from the interior of the device.

In order to reenforce the extremities of the bag or casing 19, annularbands 20 and 21 are secured by the rivets 14 and 18 within the ends ofthe same. Likewise in order to cushion the shock of landing, Ipreferably provide an air cushion 22 within the bottom of the device,although if preferred such a cushion may be omitted, or cushioning means70, of some other character may be employed.

The top supporting flange 16 defines an opening which in the presentinstance is perfectly circular in form, and-is closed by a lid or cover23, which has a flange 24 which slightly overlaps the flange 16. Agasket 25 is utilized between the flanges 16 and 24, the lid or coverbeing held in position tightly against the gasket by diametricallyopposed radially disposed latch rods 26. The latchrods are mounted inspaced aligned perforated ears 27, in which the said rods arelongitudinally slidable into and out of engagement with an alignedperforation in a locking plate or latch 28 fastening in substantiallyvertical position on the depending flange 17 of the top member. When thelid or cover 23is pressed down into position and the locking bolts areslid into engagement with their co-operating latch plates, the lid'i90will be securely held in position. However, in order to lock them insuch position, I secure a hasp 29 on each locking bolt preferably atright angles to the same, and secure a staple 30 in a position to beengaged by said hasp, on which a lock 31 may be attached for locking theparts. The invention contemplates the use of the looks when mail isbeing delivered and when it is desired to prevent the contents of thebag or casing a from being -rifled by an unauthorized person or persons.

The uprights 15 extend down beyond the top of the casing and areprovided with apertures 32, in which are attached supporting members 3-3which fasten the device to the parachute.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in my device without departing from the spirit of eight. 7 v

SOPHIA O. DONNELL.

the invention, and I, therefore, do not limit myself to what is shown inthe drawings and described in the specification, but only as set forthin the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

' 1. An article carrier for airplane delivery comprising a bottom havingan upstanding flange, a top having a depending flange and an inwardlyprojecting flange for supporting a detachable cover for said carrier,spaced uprights on the exterior of said upstanding flange and saiddepending flanges holding the top and bottom apart and forming askeleton frame, a water proof casing having its upper and lowerextremities disposed within said last mentioned flanges, an annular bandwithin each end of the casing reenforcing the same and maintaining it inextended position, and fastening means extending through the uprights,flanges, casings and bands and binding them together to form a unitarystructure, substantially as set forth.

2. An article carrier for airplane deliv-' ery comprising a bottomhaving an upstanding flange, a top having a depending flange, spaceduprights on the exterior of said flanges holding the top and 'bottom' inspaced relation and forming a skeleton frame, said uprights projectingabove the top of the device and adapted to be engaged by supportingmeans for the device, a water proof casing having its upper and lowerends disposed within said flanges, an annular band within the ends ofthe casing re-enforcing the same and maintaining it in extendedposition, and fastening means extending through the uprights, flanges,casing and bands and binding them together to form a unitary structure,substantially as set forth.

3. A non-collapsible container adapted to be used as an article carrierfor delivery of articles from airplanes, said container comprising aflexible water proof casing, an imperforate bottom to the casing havinga receiving flange fitted over the lower end of the casing, a top havinga receiving flange fitted over the upper end of the casing, a fillingopening in the top, a closure for the filling opening, spaced uprightson the exterior of the device maintaining the top and bottom in spacedrelation and forming a non-collapsible structure, said uprightsextending above the top of the container for engagement

